Berkeley, California (Thursday, September 17, 2009) - The City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, September 18, 2009.

The checkpoint will occur during the evening hours on Telegraph Avenue at Stuart Street in southeast Berkeley. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Efforts to combat drunk driving have made a difference:• Alcohol related fatalities dropped 8.3% from 1,762 in 2006 to 1,616 in 2007 – first year to year decrease since 1997-98.• Alcohol Impaired Driving Fatalities (fatalities in crashes involving a least one driver or motorcycle operator with a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 or greater) decreased 9.5% from 1,276 in 2006 to 1,155 in 2007 – this represents California’s first year-to-year reduction since 1997-98.• Statewide DUI arrests increased 3.4% from 197,248 in 2006 to 203,866 in 2007 – represents the most DUI arrests since 1994 – Department of Justice.

Depending on traffic volume and weather, all vehicles may be stopped, and drivers who are found to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and/or drugs:

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

BPD encourages the public to help keep our roadways safe by calling 9-1-1 to report suspected impaired drivers.